Wilbur M. Anderson

On January 14, 1928, in the small village of Viola Illinois, Wilbur M. Anderson was the fifth of seven children born to Mabel and Albert Anderson. Siblings were Lillian, Margaret, Melvin, Evelyn, Marilyn, and Carol. Called Bill by family and friends, he grew up on the small farm his father worked to feed his family. He went to a one-room school, having the same teacher every year through the eighth grade. In 1942, the family moved to Rock Island, opened a grocery store, and the kids went to public school. Bill graduated from Rock Island Senior High School in 1944 at age 16. He worked as a delivery person for Peerless Dairy, driving a horse-drawn delivery truck on his route.

While in high school, Bill noticed a petite brunette and found himself intensely attracted to her; one day, walking home with a buddy, he noticed the girl walking with her friends and asked his buddy if he knew who she was. The buddy said. ”Her name is Dolores Woest; everybody calls her Dody—why do you want to know?” Bill’s reply was, “I’m going to marry her.” They were married on January 1, 1947, when Bill was home on furlough from the Army. Bill served in the U.S. Army in 1946 and again in 1952. After honorable discharge from the service in 1954, he worked as a mechanic at Ed’s Midway Service on 11th street in Rock Island; they decided he needed more education so Bill began studying at Brown’s Business School in Moline, IL with the goal of becoming a CPA. He secured employment as an accountant for John Deere Harvester in Moline.

While working at Deere & Company in Moline, IL, Bill was tapped to get training in computer programming by IBM. He became a Systems Analyst and worked for Deere for several more years, but when it became apparent that he had reached his limit for advancement at Deere, he and Dody decided to relocate to Austin, TX in 1968. Over the course of their life in Austin, Bill became the Director of Data Processing for the State of Texas, Department of Parks & Wildlife. He retired at age 57 in 1986 and in 1991 they moved back to Illinois to be near Dody’s sister after Dody retired.

Bill spent his retirement volunteering in the grade school at Hennepin, IL in Putnam County. For 15 years he taught the third grade students how to use the computer and assisted each student in their assignment to create a computer slide presentation on the third grade “Around the World” project. Later he worked for three years as a volunteer tutor in the DePue ESL class for the Adult Education Department at IL Valley Community College. Bill and Dody built a solid life together for 60 years based on their commitment to and love for one another.

Preceded in death by his wife, Dolores (Dody) [nee Woest] Anderson, parents, siblings, nephew Mike Clark, and niece Marlene Bartlett. Bill passed on Saturday, June 14. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Sandra Woest of Oglesby, IL, his niece and Goddaughter, Cheryl Atchison of Round Rock, TX, nephew, Mark Clark of Mobile, AL, niece, Sally Beebe of Cincinnati, OH, and sister-in-law, Anita Woest and nephew James Woest both of Troy, AL, nephews Michael and Timothy Leasenby of the Quad Cities, and his little rescue pal, Nori.

Bill’s legacy of kindness and generosity will live on in the memories of his family, friends, and the Anderson-Woest Scholarship established as he always said, “. . .to give a boost. . .” to students at IVCC as they work toward their goals. This kind, generous man was liked and respected by those who knew him. He was deeply loved by his family and will never be forgotten.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ptak Funeral Home. A visitation from 5 o’clock to 7 o’clock P.M. will be held on Thursday, June 19. Per Bill’s wishes, there will be no service and burial at Greenview Memorial Gardens in East Moline, IL, will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude, IVAR, or the Putnam County Food Pantry.

Online condolences and Memories may be shared at PtakFH.com